Seat Counters 25/26

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

In my opinion, that Leverkusen game has come back to bite the club on the arse in more ways than one. The crowd that night was 50,500 with probably no more than 2,000 Bayer fans.
This was 25th Nov on a dank and cold night. Pep fielded a reserve eleven and if BM is anything to go by, a lot of folks were fuming and basically said fuck midweek games. Now I’m not saying it’s only down to that but you can only piss people off so many times, especially folk who have a long journey, need to take time off work etc etc.

I get what your saying, but often for fa cup games we play the kids and regularly get larger crowds, especially at the weekend

 

[jrb]

The issue for Newcastle fundamentally is price!

It’s £30-£50 tickets. That’s crazy for a cup game (we have never really smashed attendances for EFL cup semis - even going back to playing Liverpool over a decade ago).

If tickets ranged from £20-£40 instead it would probably add another 10k-15k to the attendance.

That price range is called the ‘Empty Seats At Home’ price range, dreamt up by some bean counter at the club, and signed off by the directors. All of those people involved are supposed to be very clever.

 

[Mike S]

For many fans times are very, very hard at the moment, and particularly so in the weeks after Christmas. I said before the Galatasaray match it was one to possibly give a miss if money is tight because it was essentially a play off to avoid a play off ! Thankfully it worked out well...

Newcastle in the League Cup (I'm an FOC) next Wednesday is another conundrum for many skint fans who are probably thinking of saving the total match day cost of £40 or £50 or £60 and hopefully putting that towards another expensive trip to Wembley in March.

 

[jrb]

Honestly.

With a Carabao cup final at Wembley at stake, and being 0-2 up from the 1st leg, you would have thought the directors would have wanted the Etihad packed and rocking to get behind the team, and to push the team on to another cup final.

But no, dearer tickets were more important, that haven’t sold.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

City have got to the last 16 of the CL, and to the semi-final of the Carbo cup. There’s a strong possibility the combined gates will be 25,000-30,000 under capacity, give or take. That’s something that will be noted and probably discussed by the directors.

Don’t forget, Gala pretty much sold out their 3000 ticket allocation, and they had 100’s of fans in the home ends. Newcastle have sold out their 5000+ ticket allocation. That’s an extra 9000 fans added to the combined attendances, give or take, by the away fans.

If club directors aren’t concerned by those figures and the continual fan drop off, something is very wrong at boardroom level.

We got 50,000 for the other 3 CL games so don't view everything through the prism of the Galatasaray experience, which despite all the excitement, didn't carry as much jeopardy as last year's game v Bruges when we had to win.

Even if Pep had rested all 11 players and we'd lost 5-0 we would have still reached the play offs.

Unless the club charge stupid prices then the Last 16 attendance will be far healthier

Different circumstances for Newcastle because we're already winning 2-0 and some people will naturally hedge their nets.
We've also got a huge problem with Piccadilly only running buses on certain lines and whilst this pisses me off I can't really blame it on City.

Next year we might not have any domestic home cup matches so there's no point in scaremongering over something that might not even happen

 

[TShed]

The only constant at our club from Pink Bank Lane to the Etihad is us fans if anyone from the club is reading this then can I point out none of us have struck oil ffs

 

[CatMan]

Not surprised at all! They are not bothered about full stadiums if it's the same 55,000 tight arse mancunians turning up.

They are much happier for any fecker to be able to buy tickets for their theme park. Gate receipts are such a small proportion of income, but merchandise is not so.

"Roll up, roll up, get your shirts and scarves, and don't forget your pies and pints, and if you're not too bored after shopping and eating, there's 11 millionaires kicking a bag of wind from side to side inside the stadium, sit where you want, most seats are available, and feel free to leave early for more food before your flight home." said Ferran.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I get what you’re saying about poor attendance but don’t think most City fans were put off because of galatasary’s reputation’.. there’s over 10k tickets left for Newcastle so would that be that City fans are worried about geordies all over ground? I just think it’s down to money and priorities and most peoples payday today so can see ticket sales picking up for Wednesday. I’ve been wanting millwall to come up for years to see what numbers they would take away…

Fair enough. Hopefully we will sell a load more for the Geordies 2nsd leg. Everyone’s circumstances are different though and somePeople face tough times like you say.

How are we going to get close to those 2 clubs, which City won’t anyway, if fans are walking away, being banned, etc?

It’s like 1 step forward and 2 steps back.

Never mind City Bingo, it’s now City Snakes and Ladders.

Feel free to take it up with City’s Directors as it’s part of their strategy.

I’ve said many times on here that the bans are often ludicrous.

There seems to be a lot of shooting us ourselves in the foot going around including Blues wanting to take loads of pics of empty seats and publishing them on line. Especially, for a game where it was made clear that attendance would be restricted to a certain extent for crowd safety issues.

I think the Directors have got a fair amount to answer for regarding the reduced attendances but there seems to be an obsession with talking ourselves down on here too.

 

[pride in battle]

Fair enough. Hopefully we will sell a load more for the Geordies 2nsd leg. Everyone’s circumstances are different though and somePeople face tough times like you say.

Feel free to take it up with City’s Directors as it’s part of their strategy.

I’ve said many times on here that the bans are often ludicrous.

There seems to be a lot of shooting us ourselves in the foot going around including Blues wanting to take loads of pics of empty seats and publishing them on line. Especially, for a game where it was made clear that attendance would be restricted to a certain extent for crowd safety issues.

I think the Directors have got a fair amount to answer for regarding the reduced attendances but there seems to be an obsession with talking ourselves down on here too.

People love to moan, i still think the main criteria why attendances are down is due to peoples finances, people are skint, they can watch on a dodgy stream.
£10 cheaper tickets, in my opinion wouldn't make any difference to the attendance.

 

[EastMidlandsBlue]

The issue for Newcastle fundamentally is price!

It’s £30-£50 tickets. That’s crazy for a cup game (we have never really smashed attendances for EFL cup semis - even going back to playing Liverpool over a decade ago).

If tickets ranged from £20-£40 instead it would probably add another 10k-15k to the attendance.

Newcastle charged £20 for all tickets across the ground, what need was there for us to not match this.

Is disheartening when there's empty seats, but it's even more disheartening when it's completely avoidable

 

[Blue Mist]

Nobody was put off by Galatasaray's reputation. It was more the hassle for casual supporters of trying to buy a ticket and then the self perpetuating myth that it was going to be chaos

People were definitely put off by all the hype over Gala fans being in the home end. There were plenty of comments on here from dads not taking their sons etc.
The rag game v Gala was often quoted, stating 10k fans in home areas.
What people failed to mention was there was no trouble from this 10k at the rags, just like there was no trouble in City's home sections.
People on here banged on about it so much it did scare fans off.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

We got 50,000 for the other 3 CL games so don't view everything through the prism of the Galatasaray experience, which despite all the excitement, didn't carry as much jeopardy as last year's game v Bruges when we had to win.

Even if Pep had rested all 11 players and we'd lost 5-0 we would have still reached the play offs.

Unless the club charge stupid prices then the Last 16 attendance will be far healthier

Different circumstances for Newcastle because we're already winning 2-0 and some people will naturally hedge their nets.
We've also got a huge problem with Piccadilly only running buses on certain lines and whilst this pisses me off I can't really blame it on City.

Next year we might not have any domestic home cup matches so there's no point in scaremongering over something that might not even happen

The trains are a disaster and it has become virtually impossible to park near the ground. The M60 is constantly blocked by something. Pricing is an issue but not as big as transport. I heard from a cabbie this week that there was total chaos after Co-op Arena gigs because it does not have a proper taxi rank. What the fuck is going on in this country and what is Burnham doing. The Bee network is just a gimmick. The big problem is within the Greater Manchester region not the central area.

 

[jrb]

Fair enough. Hopefully we will sell a load more for the Geordies 2nsd leg. Everyone’s circumstances are different though and somePeople face tough times like you say.

Feel free to take it up with City’s Directors as it’s part of their strategy.

I’ve said many times on here that the bans are often ludicrous.

There seems to be a lot of shooting us ourselves in the foot going around including Blues wanting to take loads of pics of empty seats and publishing them on line. Especially, for a game where it was made clear that attendance would be restricted to a certain extent for crowd safety issues.

I think the Directors have got a fair amount to answer for regarding the reduced attendances but there seems to be an obsession with talking ourselves down on here too.

We can’t bring it up with the directors personally because we can’t talk to the directors. City Matters do the talking for the fans. So do other fan groups. So does this fan forum and other fan forums. The directors know exactly how the fans are feeling and what their grievances are. The directors got an overwhelming taste of that feeling during the last seasons protests. What the fans are asking for can be changed by the directors. Currently the directors don’t want to change those things.

 

[Stretford Born Blue]

I went versus Galatasaray, but it was touch and go, I had a ticket but couldn’t be arsed.
Newcastle next week and Salford will be a similar turnout,
I’m fast falling out with football at the top table, prices, KO times and days, VAR, amateur dramatics from players on the pitch, the inconsistency with officiating and VAR, daft rules, it’s a fuckin circus.
We have enough fans to fill that stadium 10 times over, but they don’t turn up.
The club has got to start opening their eyes and ask themselves why.
If match-day ticket revenue formulates such a small percentage of annual revenue, then make cheaper, like German football.
And, we need to help young fans in getting tickets together, my son would love to go with his mates, instead of sitting with his grumpy Dad and his mates, who’ve been watching them for over 50 years.
The club is actively alienating fans, particularly season ticket holders, who can’t give their seat to another season ticket holder for example,
If you look at sales for Newcastle right now, you can only buy in L0 and L1, because they want it to look full, leaving fewer fans in L2.
Just leave it all open for sale FFS.
I’ve not bought for Salford yet, will I, don’t know yet, I’ve lost the feeling of having lost a leg if I miss a game, that is really sad to say and, I know many others like me, at a time when were successful on the pitch too, what’s that all about?!

 

[jrb]

We got 50,000 for the other 3 CL games so don't view everything through the prism of the Galatasaray experience, which despite all the excitement, didn't carry as much jeopardy as last year's game v Bruges when we had to win.

Even if Pep had rested all 11 players and we'd lost 5-0 we would have still reached the play offs.

Unless the club charge stupid prices then the Last 16 attendance will be far healthier

Different circumstances for Newcastle because we're already winning 2-0 and some people will naturally hedge their nets.
We've also got a huge problem with Piccadilly only running buses on certain lines and whilst this pisses me off I can't really blame it on City.

Next year we might not have any domestic home cup matches so there's no point in scaremongering over something that might not even happen

We did, and then we had a 15,000 drop off in attendance for Gala. Many reasons can be cited, but a 15,000 drop off for a win that wasn’t guaranteed, and a possible top 8 finish either achieved or missed, shouldn’t see a drop off of that magnitude. Let’s be honest, that drop off is staggering, even with 100’s of Gala fans in the home ends.

I think we know what the prices will be if it’s either Real Madrid or Inter Milan, which seem likely to be City’s next opponents. There is no way Soriano isn’t going to miss either of those glamour ties and opportunities to hike the ticket prices up again as he knows the tourists and football fans will pay what they have to pay to get a ticket for one of those matches, especially if it’s Real Madrid. We’ve been here before on numerous occasions for that repeat Real Madrid home game.

As for Newcastle, it’s all down to the ticket prices. If tickets for that match would have been cheaper, it would have sold out in my opinion. As I stated, with a cup final at stake, it was more important to fill the Etihad rather than trying to screw more money out of already financially hard pressed fans. If City get to the final, we’ll make that cheaper ticket money beck anyway. Just for once, well, not for once, you’d have thought the directors would have thought, fuck it, let‘s fill the Etihad instead of worrying about making a few quid more.

As for next season, regardless of the amount of home cup games, we might get some, we might not get any, we’ve got an extra 8000 seats to fill. That’s going to be an almost impossible to do looking at the attendances for this seasons home cup games. And no, the Emptyhad jibes don’t bother me. Hopefully there will be sensible and cheaper ticket prices for next seasons cup matches? Hopefully!

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

The trains are a disaster and it has become virtually impossible to park near the ground. The M60 is constantly blocked by something. Pricing is an issue but not as big as transport. I heard from a cabbie this week that there was total chaos after Co-op Arena gigs because it does not have a proper taxi rank. What the fuck is going on in this country and what is Burnham doing. The Bee network is just a gimmick. The big problem is within the Greater Manchester region not the central area.

Assuming no extra time, the Newcastle game will finish around 9:55, meaning 24 minutes for hundreds of City fans to get from their seat in the ground to Piccadilly Station for the 10:19 Buxton Train

The next option is the 11:16 Bus Replacement Service which is due to arrive in Buxton at 1:07am and not much better for supporters living in Whaley Bridge and Chapel en le Frith

Again, it's not necessarily City's fault, but don't be too surprised to see early leavers with 10 minutes remaining, even with the result in the balance

Alternatively, this is a significant reason why some supporters won't bother.

If you live less than 30 miles from the Etihad it shouldn't take 3 hours to get home

 

[franksinatra]

And the reason Newcastle charged that amount is they knew, even with Newcastles relative lack of success it would be a hard sell and they wanted a full house to help the team.

It’s not 2010, no City fan considers a carabao cup semi as a huge game anymore. The club know this so they had a choice get 35/40k or lose a few grand, drop prices to get upwards of 48/49 plus and improve the atmosphere for the team.They banked the few extra quid.

 

[jrb]

And the reason Newcastle charged that amount is they knew, even with Newcastles relative lack of success it would be a hard sell and they wanted a full house to help the team.

It’s not 2010, no City fan considers a carabao cup semi as a huge game anymore. The club know this so they had a choice get 35/40k or lose a few grand, drop prices to get upwards of 48/49 plus and improve the atmosphere for the team.They banked the few extra quid.

They did. But ultimately they’ve lost out with the loss of more ticket sales, more drink and food sales, more merchandise sales, more hospitality sales, more car parking revenue, etc. That’s why I can’t get my head around their thinking. It just baffles me.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Assuming no extra time, the Newcastle game will finish around 9:55, meaning 24 minutes for hundreds of City fans to get from their seat in the ground to Piccadilly Station for the 10:19 Buxton Train

The next option is the 11:16 Bus Replacement Service which is due to arrive in Buxton at 1:07am and not much better for supporters living in Whaley Bridge and Chapel en le Frith

Again, it's not necessarily City's fault, but don't be too surprised to see early leavers with 10 minutes remaining, even with the result in the balance

Alternatively, this is a significant reason why some supporters won't bother.

If you live less than 30 miles from the Etihad it shouldn't take 3 hours to get home

I get what you’re saying, but trying to get to Buxton after any night game has always been a pain in the arse. The majority of people on that train are getting off in hazel grove and before that in my experience

If you live that far away you probably should expect to be getting home quite late on public transport - not that it’s right by the way

 

[WestGorton]

Newcastle charged £20 for all tickets across the ground, what need was there for us to not match this.

Is disheartening when there's empty seats, but it's even more disheartening when it's completely avoidable

Agreed. I went to Newcastle and those prices should have been reciprocated.